Window brace



W. SALO WINDOW BRACE July 17, 1956 Filed April '7, 1954 ATTRNEY United States Patent WINDOW BRACE William Salo, Cannon Beach, Oreg.

Application April 7, 1954, Serial No. 421,630

3 Claims. (Cl. 292-264) This invention relates to window braces and is particularly adapted to hinged windows wherein it is desired to support the window in selected open positions. A further feature of the invention is that the device may act not only to secure the window in such selected open positions but further to act as a lock for retaining the window in fully closed position,

It is among the primary objects of the invention to provide a novel, simple, effective and eflicient means for selectively bracing a window or like closure in a multiplicity of hinged positions with respect to its mounting frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of a generally flexible nature which may be extended between window and frame in any selected extent and whereby such selected portion thereof may constitute a rigid brace for resisting closure of the window beyond the position dictated by such portion.

Another object is to provide means for selectively locking the window in various positions of open adjustment or in fully closed position.

Other objects of the invention include that of providing a window brace chain structure flexible in only one direction with respect to its length so as to constitute a rigid brace while under tension in direction of movement opposite that of its direction of flexibility but readily adjustable as to length by pivotal movement between links in the direction of flexibility.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts through the several figures and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation, partly broken away, illustrating the new and improved flexible brace in operative position holding the window in a selected, partially open position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the window casing and sash illustrating the brace in the position of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view in elevation of the window and frame and illustrating the brace holding the sash in fully closed position, parts being broken away for convenience of illustration;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

In the drawings, the window casing or frame is identified by the numeral 1 while the window itself including its sash is identified by the numeral 2. The new and improved flexible brace is identified by the numeral 3 and includes a chain preferably formed of fiat links 4 connected together by substantially U-shaped intermediate links 5. The links 5 have a closed upper wall or bight portion 6, while the sides of the links 5 embrace the sides of the flat links 4. The U-shaped design of the links 5 is such that the chain 3 is flexible only in one direction with respect to its length because the flat links 4 may pivot downwardly from their connected links 5 but only a slight bow downwardly is permitted in the opposite direction by abutment of the bight portions 6 of the links 5 with the upper edges of the links 4, as best illustrated in Figure 1. Therefore, the chain is flexible in one direction but rigid with respect to flexture in the opposite direction and the weight of the portion of the chain extending between the window and sash will prevent buckling of the chain under the weight of the window.

One end link 4 of the chain is pivotally connected by a cross-pin 9 to a U-shaped fitting 7, which is secured to the sash of the window by fasteners such as screws 8. A coil spring 10 is also mounted on pin 9 with one of its ends 1.1 bearing against the fitting. The opposite end 12 of spring 10 is hooked over the end link 4, as best illustrated in Figure 2. Downward pressure on the links in the direction of their rigid relationship is thus applied, preventing upward buckling of the chain 3.

A fitting 13 is fixed to the casing or frame 1 by screws 14 and this fitting comprises a base plate 15 and a side plate or cover 16 parallelly spaced therefrom by a top wall 17 and a vertically extending web or spacer 18 and providing a space 20 between said plates 15 and 16. Stops 19 extend inwardly into the space 20 from the plates 15 and 16, as best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. The inner ends of these stops are separated by a space 21 adapted to receive a flat link 4 of the chain 3. Upon insertion of a link 4 between the stops 19, such link will rest upon and be supported by the web 18. Stops 19 abut against the end 22 of the link 5 next adjacent the link 4 located between the stops, preventing end movement of these links of the chain and determining the length of the brace portion thereof when a selected link 4 is dropped down between'the said stops.

The stops are so located relative to the web 18 that they engage the ends 22 of the links 5. Thus, when pressure is directed against the stops by the surfaces 22 they will tend to force the links 5 downwardly below center, insuring a rigid brace. When the Window sash is closed, the stops 19 bear against the free edges 24 of the last U-shaped link 5A of the chain 3, as seen in Figure 3. The remainder of the chain 3 hangs down within the window casing as illustrated. Thus, the fitting 13 will act as a lock to secure the window in fully closed position.

In operation, the operator grasps the depending portion 3A of the chain and lifts it slightly above a horizontal plane, raising the chain above the stops 19 to the broken line position, Fig. 3. This will allowthe links 5 to clear the stops 19. The operator then pushes the sash out to the desired position, then lowers the chain to pass a link 4 between the stops 19 and with the stops between the adjacent links 5, as illustrated in Figure 1. The selected link 4 is then dropped down to engage the web 18. The balance of the chain will fall to the position shown in Figs. 13 and be out of the Way. Due to the fact that the stops 19 are located adjacent the ends 22 of the links 5, the inward pressure exerted by the sash 2 will cause the links to fall in an are below their center line. This provides a rigid brace against the pressure exerted by the sash. Also the downward pressure of the spring 10 within the fitting 7 will assist in forcing the chain beyond or below its center line, maintaining the said chain in a rigid condition.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the window may be braced and secured in any desired open position by merely extending the chain between window and frame as desired whereby the chain as so extended will be tensioned towards its non-flexible direction and will constitute that portion of the frame as a rigid support.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invcntion has been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

I. In a sash holder adapted to hold a sash member in a chosen angular position with respect to a frame member to which the sash member is hinged, the combination which comprises a chain formed of a plurality of pivotally connected and alternately positioned flat and U-shaped links, means for pivotally connecting one end of the chain to the sash member, and means attached to the frame member for receiving any desired portion of the chain to lock it in position, said last mentioned means comprising a web upon which any one of the flat links rests, and stop means engageable with a rear portion of the U-shaped link next to the fiat link resting on said web to hold the chain in locked position, said chain being positioned with the bights of the U-shaped links uppermost, whereby when the chain is positioned in a slight downward curve said bights abut said fiat links and cause said chain to function substantially as a rigid brace.

2. In a sash holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for pivotally connecting one end of the chain to the sash member comprises a U-shaped fitting provided with a cross pin and a coil spring mounted on the pin and having one end bearing against the fitting and the other end hooked over the end of the link pivoted to the fitting to prevent upward buckling of the chain.

3. In a sash holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means attached to the frame member for locking the chain in any desired position, comprises a fitting having a base plate for attachment to the frame member, a side plate spaced from said base plate and a top wall with said web extending between the base plate and side plate; said stop means comprising a pair of stops extending inwardly from said base plate and said side plate, respectively, with the inner, adjacent ends of the stops spaced sufliciently to receive only a fiat link therebetween, so that upon insertion of a flat link between the stops the flat link will rest on the web and the end of the adjacent U-shaped link will abut said stops to hold the chain in locked position.

Keusder Aug. 22, 1944 Hakanson Nov. 30, 1948 

